Volta Minister James Gunu Honoured as Regional Tourism and Journalistic Excellence are Celebrated

Ghana's creative and media landscapes are experiencing a surge of recognition, highlighted by significant honours for public officials and media professionals alike. In the Volta Region, Minister James Gunu has emerged as a central figure in cultural promotion, receiving a Special Honorary Award from the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) at the 2026 Volta Regional Tourism Awards. The award recognises Mr. Gunu's leadership in transforming the region into a burgeoning tourism hub and his dedicated efforts in preserving Ewe cultural identity. Beyond this honorary recognition, the Minister has demonstrated practical support for the arts by pledging GHS 10,000 to Sesinam, the Volta Region's representative in the 20th edition of TV3’s Ghana’s Most Beautiful pageant, urging the nation to support her as a standard-bearer for regional heritage.

Simultaneously, the fourth Bono Regional Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) Awards in Sunyani celebrated excellence in reporting, with Biiya Mukusah Ali of the Graphic Communications Group Ltd securing two prestigious wins. Ali was honoured for the Best Report on Agroecology and Agribusiness, as well as the Best Report on Tourism (Print), highlighting the critical intersection of media and regional development. The ceremony, which also saw Lawrence Yeboah Gyan of Wisdom FM named the Overall Best Journalist for the region, featured a keynote by NDC Chairman Johnson Asiedu Nketiah. Nketiah emphasized the vital role of journalism in ensuring accountability for public projects and called for a stronger synergy between the media and academia to improve governance.

The Ghanaian creative influence is also expanding internationally with the appointment of creative entrepreneur Francis Spio Jungo to the Planning Committee for FanteFest 2026. Set to take place in London on September 26, 2026, the festival will benefit from Jungo's extensive experience in event organisation. Formerly one of the nation’s youngest recording artists before retiring in 2016, Jungo has since dedicated his career to nurturing emerging talent through platforms like Heritage Promotions and the Central Music Awards. His inclusion in the FanteFest committee signals a growing commitment to projecting Ghanaian culture on the global stage.

These collective achievements across the Volta and Bono regions, as well as in the international diaspora, underscore a period of robust growth for Ghana's cultural and professional sectors. Whether through the lens of investigative journalism, regional tourism leadership, or the promotion of heritage in beauty pageants and international festivals, these milestones reflect a unified effort to elevate the Ghanaian narrative. As the nation moves toward 2026, the emphasis on digital innovation in tourism and the accountability of the press remains central to the country's socio-cultural development.